Western Michigan softball team signs six to class of 2012

Gazette FilePortage Central senior Becca Shemberger, who signed her letter of intent to play softball at Western Michigan University in 2012.

Portage Central High School standout Becca Shemberger headlines the Western Michigan University softball program’s signing class of 2012.

The Broncos inked six newcomers — the largest freshmen class since 2006.

Shemberger, the starting pitcher for the Mustangs, has led P-Central to three Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference championships and compiled a record of 98-21. The righty earned all-state, all-region, all-district and all-SMAC honors in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

WMU will also add: • Emma Bogart of Xavier Prep in Phoenix, Ariz., whose teams racked up a 77-21 record in her three seasons.

• Kim Murphy of Stevensville Lakeshore, who won the Division 2 state title in 2010. Murphy, a second baseman, has a career .450 batting average and slugged .471 as a junior with 23 RBIs.

• Jenny Rohn of Livonia Ladywood, who earned all-league honors at Rochester as a freshman and sophomore and a member of the district championship squad at Ladywood. Rohn is a middle infield/center fielder.

• Alesya Schalk of St. Joseph, who was all-district, all-region and all-state as a junior. Schalk hit .313 with five home runs as a junior and .448 with seven homers as a sophomore, while playing at second base and in the outfield.

• Mackenzie Schepeck of Gladstone, who pitches and plays third base. Schepeck’s teams have finished third in the state in Division 3 and won the title in 2009. She’s been named first team all-district and all-region the past three years and boasted a 0.18 ERA during the 2009 state tournament and 0.00 ERA in the 2008 tournment.